Damage to South Carolina's peaches and other crops is so severe and widespread that Gov. Mark Sanford appealed Tuesday for a federal disaster designation for the entire state.
In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, the governor asked for assistance that includes low-interest loans and other forms of aid, and included a special request that federal payment limitations be waived.
"While most farmers have federal crop insurance, we expect these proceeds will be insufficient to cover the costs that this disastrous freeze caused," Mr. Sanford wrote.
Meanwhile, Clemson University researchers have confirmed what state agriculture officials estimated after the April 7-10 subfreeezing temperatures, placing peach crop losses at $36 million, or about 90 percent of the $40-million-a-year crop's value.
Julie Huffman, the executive director of the S.C. Peach Council, noted that the $36 million loss figure is only the value of the peaches. She warned there would be other residual economic consequences.
Clemson scientists have visited peach farms in most parts of the state in efforts to predict how much of the 2007 harvest could still be expected. "They are saying we have 5 to 10 percent of a crop, so that's their optimistic viewpoint," Ms. Huffman said.
Mr. Sanford wrote that spot assessments were conducted by the South Carolina office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, whose inspectors verified extensive losses in virtually all parts of the state.
"The freeze was so severe that the new tender vegetative growth on most crops was destroyed," Mr. Sanford wrote. "Much of the corn and tobacco planted in the state had to be replanted. The damage to small grain crops, such as wheat and rye, will be assessed closer to harvest time, but preliminary reports are pessimistic. Even ornamental nursery crops have suffered severe damage and loss due to the freeze."
Becky Walton, spokeswoman for the S.C. Department of Agriculture, said farmers who grow many other crops also sustained heavy damages, but peaches took the worst hit.
"Peaches don't have the resiliency to be planted again in the same year," she said. "You can replant watermelons and tomatoes, but you have to wait 'til next year for peaches, and the waiting is the problem."
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
WHAT'S NEXT:
Federal agriculture authorities will determine whether South Carolina is eligible for disaster assistance after the April freeze that destroyed 90 percent of the peach crop.
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